The Turnip Truck

In 2015 local grocery store The Turnip Truck began development on an unused .95 acre surface parking lot at 701 Woodland St for their expanded East Nashville location.

The development of the previously vacant lot facing East Park has helped activate Woodland Street and bridge the gap between Five Points and downtown. The owner’s and the architect were excited to insert a modern building in the growing urban fabric of East Nashville and the opportunity to create a relationship with the adjacent park and a compliment to the existing EOA-designed East Park Community Center.

The redeveloped .95 acre site features a sustainably designed 24,000 square foot building with native landscaping and 54 parking spaces. The building features large expanses of windows along the Woodland elevation and at the entry corner to allow natural light to fill the double height shopping area. These windows also allow for views of East Park and for those passing by to be able to see into the store from Woodland Street. Creative use of insulated metal panes, fiber cement panels, painted concrete block and painted steel break down the mass of the building to be compatible with the neighborhood scale.

The new two-story structure’s main floor includes shopping space with a café, deli and bakery along with shipping, receiving and back of house areas. The second floor mezzanine features a walking bridge connecting office space to additional dining seating, and community spaces for cooking classes and wine tastings. A third floor has been designed for a future expansion with a rooftop cafe and greenhouses for hydroponic gardens.